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Hello! I’m Anjali. I’m a board certified health coach, author, wife, mom and food lover from the SF Bay area (now living in Seattle, WA!); with a passion for delicious food and a desire to make healthy eating easy, tasty and fun! Learn more about me here and stay for a while!

Anjali Shah

Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto and Feta

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This whole wheat pasta dish is made with a delicious sun-dried tomato pesto and topped with crumbled feta. Packed with flavor, and easy and quick to make for a healthy weeknight meal.

Pasta with sun-dried tomato pesto served in a white bowl.

This healthy twist on a traditional pesto makes for a delicious sauce to go with the nuttiness of whole wheat pasta. The feta and sun-dried tomatoes add a wonderful sharp bite, while the almonds, basil, garlic, and cheese give it a velvety creaminess.

Since this recipe doesn’t have tons of veggies in it, I like serving it with some roasted veggies, sautéed spinach with garlic, or a large salad made with fresh greens on the side!

Ingredients for pasta and sun-dried tomato pesto.

How to make this Pasta with Sun-dried tomato pesto and feta – Step by Step

Cook pasta according to the package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain through a sieve over a bowl, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid. Return pasta to pan.

Pasta being poured into boiling water.

While pasta cooks, place tomatoes and next 6 ingredients (through black pepper) in a food processor.

Ingredients for sun-dried tomato pesto in a food processor.

Process until finely chopped.

Sun-dried tomato pesto after being processed.

Combine tomato mixture and the reserved 1 cup cooking liquid, stirring with a whisk.

Sun-dried tomato pesto being mixed with cooking water.

Add to pasta; toss well to coat.

A bowl of cooked pasta next to a bowl of sun-dried tomato pesto.

Sprinkle with some extra feta before serving.

Sun-dried tomato pesto being stirred into pasta.

What are the benefits of sun-dried tomatoes?

Sun-dried tomatoes are a wonderful ingredient to use because they have an intense, aromatic flavor. As well as being delicious, they are also packed full of nutrients. They are high in vitamins C and K, as well as iron and antioxidants that are associated with lowering the risks of certain cancers.

How to Store this Sun-dried tomato pesto recipe 

Making your pesto at home is so easy and healthier, fresher and tastier than the store bought alternatives. I always make more than I need, and just store it in a jar in the fridge topped up with olive oil so I can grab it whenever I need. The pesto can also be used in sandwiches or mixed into a salad dressing.

How can this recipe be made even healthier?

Whole wheat pasta is great, but you could also swap in a chickpea or lentil based pasta to increase the protein even more without adding calories or fat. You can also add in veggies to this dish – some roasted squash or sauteed spinach would be great. If you cut back on the oil in the pesto you can save on some extra calories and fat there too! You can do all of this and still have a healthy meal for the whole family that is on the table within 30 minutes.

Pasta with sun-dried tomato pesto served in a white bowl and garnished with a basil leaf.

Top tips for making Pasta with Sun-dried Tomato Pesto and Feta

  • Cook the pasta al dente (with bite).
  • Don’t substitute dried basil for the fresh basil in this recipe. Fresh herbs are key for big flavor!
  • If you have any left over pesto (or make extra), put it in a sealable jar and top it up with olive oil to keep it fresh.
  • Use whole wheat pasta, or for even more protein and nutrients – try a lentil or chickpea based pasta.
  • Serve with some veggies on the side for an even healthier dish.

Pasta and pesto being eaten with a fork

Be sure to check out these other healthy pasta dishes

If you have tried this Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto and Feta recipe, or any other recipe on my blog, then please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more delicious, healthy, family friendly food!

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Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto and Feta

A few simple substitutions makes this pasta recipe healthier than the traditional version, without losing any of the flavor and deliciousness of the original! This is a super fast recipe and perfect for a weeknight meal.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 300kcal
Author: Anjali Shah

Ingredients

  • 8 oz whole wheat penne
  • 3/4 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomato halves drained and patted dry with a paper towel (to cut down on the oil a bit)
  • 1/4 cup loosely packed basil leaves
  • 2 Tbsp slivered almonds
  • 2 Tbsp shredded fresh Parmesan cheese
  • 1 Tbsp minced garlic
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup crumbled low fat feta cheese

Instructions

  • Cook pasta according to the package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain through a sieve over a bowl, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid. Return pasta to pan.
  • While pasta cooks, place tomatoes and next 6 ingredients (through black pepper) in a food processor; process until finely chopped.
  • Combine tomato mixture and the reserved 1 cup cooking liquid, stirring with a whisk. Add to pasta; toss well to coat. Sprinkle with feta.

Notes

Top tips for making Pasta with Sun-dried Tomato Pesto and Feta
  • Cook the pasta al dente (with bite).
  • Don't substitute dried basil for the fresh basil in this recipe. Fresh herbs are key for big flavor!
  • If you have any left over pesto (or make extra), put it in a sealable jar and top it up with olive oil to keep it fresh.
  • Use whole wheat pasta, or for even more protein and nutrients - try a lentil or chickpea based pasta.
  • Serve with some veggies on the side for an even healthier dish.
Adapted from MyRecipes

Nutrition

Calories: 300kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 12.3g | Fat: 9.9g | Sodium: 570mg | Fiber: 10g
A healthy version of pasta with sun-dried tomato Pesto!

10 responses to “Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto and Feta”

    • Hi Ginger! A lot of people add olive oil to the water when cooking pasta, but it’s best to not do that. That’s what the “fat” means 🙂 For salt, it’s optional. I always say to add salt if you’re not watching your blood pressure or have other sodium issues, and omit it if you do. Hope that helps!

  1. I’m always looking for pasta recipes (I have a household of pasta lovers!) I must try this one. I think I’ve made a green pesto and sun-dried tomato pasta before but not with the addition of feta cheese. (Love that!) I love trawling through and finding good looking recipes online and then adapting them to meet my own needs. I love to make them healthier and cheaper if i can but still keep that great taste.

    I’ve just started my own blog to share my recipes and also health and well-being tips.

    • Congrats on starting your own blog Alice! And thanks for the comment — I’m sure you’ll love this recipe – it’s super easy to make and very satisfying!

  2. I made this for dinner tonight and it was great! It was perfectly tangy and flavorful. I really love your blog! It’s funny because our stories kind of align- my boyfriend grew up eating cafeteria food lunches and fast food dinners, while I grew up eating healthy home cooked meals every night. He has also started to eat much healthy since we moved in together. He used to think that cheddar cheese and ritz crackers was a healthy dinner! Now I cook most nights and he occasionally splurges when we eat out.

    • Oh thank you so much Anna! I’m so glad this recipe turned out well and that you’re enjoying my blog. That’s so funny about your boyfriend – it sounds like he and my husband have a lot in common 🙂 Kudos to you for getting him to eat healthier at home!! That’s great!

  3. Looks great! Did you take that picture? 🙂 I’ve made something similar before… Also works great if you throw in some steamed broccoli and/or some lightly sauteed eggplant!

    • Thanks! Love the idea of throwing in those extra veggies too – they probably add great texture (not to mention the added fiber and nutritional value!)

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